Folding bed



April 2, 1929. l E, CQCKS 1,707,509

FOLDING BED Filed Dec. 5, 1925 Zn ver! fr Edgar Caf/f5 f 7 77W /4/ 35 v 47 E? 3Q 46 45 24 a/r/Eg lll ilatented pr. 1929. `v

Y EDGAR Cocks; 'ony Losl ANGELES, foALFoRNIA.

FOLDING BED.

Application vfiled. December moved,therefrom'into a-roorn for use. These are ordinarily termed recess beds and the desiderata are compaetness andinohility'. y

The dominant'features offbeds of this type comprise a base, portablyH supportedy upon .rollers7V and a hedfraine piv'otally monted 'thereon to swing ina vertical plane,vbeing disposed vvertically for storage orliorizo'n'tally I for use." Vlien disposed'horizontally the frame overhangs the base.

In order tooccupy 'a minimum of storage space and vhe inovablethro'ugh standard Width doors,-`the hase ismade as small and vcompact as possihleV consis'ten-tavith its functional re'- quirenients; and to facilitate in loiveri'n'gyand raisingl the bed frame, balance springs are provided 'between the frame and hase.I These are of suflicient strength to' *norinally'holdith'e frame in' its vertically disposed'po'sition', but Weak enough ito be overconi'e'b'y its unbalanced weight when disposedhorizontally for' use. The frame is p'iiiotally supported adjacent one'end and When'a vmattress andfbedding are placed thereon its unbalanced Weightis 'con'f siderahle, therefore, the balance springs must possess considerable tensile strengthto mini` mise the physical'eort required Jto-raise' or lower the frame and he'ddinfg'between the horizontal and vertical positions. As the tensile strength of the' `balancesprings is greatest when the bed f raine'isV in its horizent-alA position, and as this tefnjsionis increasing as it is being" moved to this -positionffroni the vertical,'tlieir tendency is to tip thev base in the same directio'nthe frame'ishjeing.moved and this is aug'n'ie'nted by the ehiftii'ig` ofthe center of gravity oftheentire structure Vrelative Vtothe hase. To overcoin'efthis tendency either a great deal ofundesirahle:Weightmust loe added to the base or it inustloemade of`=a planareaso large that vit cannot be convenient-ly stored in comparatively sm'alllrecesses or easily' passed through .standard Width doors.

VJith these probl'einsin mind, my improve# ment is directed to certainfeaturesof` the hase, my object-*being to provid-e asimple and compact"V structurea including one or lmore flexible; auxiliary" suppt irtingV legs, which may he ineved'to foldedpositiomy When-the frame is vertically disposedffor storag'e',' orl moves v.tof @extended positionl when'v the frame -i'slotvered to theliorizontal foruse. By thisimeans I am enabled lto utilize a hasei of minimuni'plan area; and to elfecti'velyinor'ease'tlisfajrea ivlie'nnecessary to counteract tension' ofthe balance"y springs,' obvia-ting poss'iloiflit'yofI the'loase collapsingoi'i the frame when it is moved `for use', but Without sacrifie# ing'any ofthe desired'compactness'for storl age or fwvealreningtlre tensile strength-of the balance'jspri'ngs to tliepoinft of?reopt'iir'ingv excessive "physical effort inraisi'n'g orleivering thebedfrarne. i y

Anoth'crflfature dflni'y' impro-vementis-lthe provision of means tolp'revent'ni'oveinent'of the Vhed fran'iefronr the' vertical v1to1' lthe "li'ori zk'nntali'until'v the' fdldahle auxiliary leg is inov'ed to its entended 1 position; thereby pieverting:' possihilityl of f f oversight 1 and rel siltantfinj ufryfto' the operatoriv Ialso provide a' stut-afhle latclring arrangement to f preventr accidental movement of the auxiliaryA l'eg fre'mf its Y extended 4tposition', such as might he denebyf'its catching yon'theedge of rugs when th'elie fis moved.

The'lnvention ihereinv` shown' and-*described is similar' to infyf` inventionA shefn ',al'id" de'- scrilje d in copend-ingapplication filed iDec. 3*;51'92'5-'fS`e1ia1f'No- 723869; `th/ef 'invention of thisap licationf-v dilfe'ringli from" the" former' in spe'eific'detailsrelating to the operationof the auxiliary leg andtlie inea'nfs o'lfpreventin'g movement of the lied frame While tlie auxiliary*liedis-inlfolde'df'position Y Infr the' following speci'fi-ea.'tion I vde'scri'loe thelc'lctalls of co"l r'ii'ctioii'i, arrangement and ol'ueraftion vof 1 my improvement; reference "heing 'made therein tothe accompanying'ldraivv ings7 wherein I h':Weill-ustratedv its lpreferred specific eiirlodinien-tj l'wi'shffitto beunder stood', however; that l this Afparticular I embodiment is shownfanddescribed merely for the purpose of' fully disclosingltheI l'general princip'les ofiny`vv invention an d that I` reserve' the l riglitto inaliefsuc'l'i changes and modifications i'ir structnre4- as'av'ill lpropel-flycome Within the scope of the invention fasffdefne'dfby t'hef'elaims a-plperdedy heretofl' i VInfthe'fdraivingsf: Y Y Fig; rl is alfragrnenta "i-ont4 elevatioof ni-yfbedfs rei1lustrL ingtliehedjfram'e in ritsverticali-y'` disposed A'position r`on the 'base and the auxiliary leg,l in its folded position' y Fig; 2 -is'K afsee'tional fp'lanflv'iew talinenlas indicat'edby'the line 2-421' of Fi-grl ;f`

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed plan view, taken as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the auxiliary leg in folded position;

Fig. 4 is a detailed View similar to Fig. 3 illilstrating the auxiliary leg in extended position,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, detailed view taken indicated by the line 5"-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, Idetailed view talren as indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; and y Y Fig. 7 is a small, diagrammatic side elevation illustrating movement of the bed frame.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2 the numeral 10 designates generally a base, movably supported upon a plurality of rollers 11. This base is composed of arcuate end members l2, a rear transverse brace member 13 and a front, transverse brace member 14. lThe end mein bers 12 are made arcuate to facilitate in movev ment of the base into and out of small recesses, such as closets and through doors of substantially standard width. 'i he rollers 11 may be rigid or of the caster type.

Standards 15 are rigidly supported upon the base 10, adjacent the forward ends of the end members 12 and uprights 16 and are mounted upon the rear ends of these members, which are suitably ointed to form the head of the bed. A bed frame 17, carrying suitable springs 18, is pivotally mounted upon the standards 15 through the medium of pivot pins 19 carried by the latter. As illustrated in Fig. 1 the pivotal connections between the standards 15 and frame 17 are adjacent theV head end of the frame,.so that the head end overhang is substantially equal to the height of the standards 15 above the base 10. Brace members 2() may be provided between the standards 15 and uprights 16 to lend rigidity to the structure.

A plurality of contractile, helical springs 21 are each connected at one end to a transve ielv disposed brace member 22, carried by the side frame members 17u and at their opposite ends to the transverse brace member 14 of the base 10. These springs l have termed balance springs for the reason that they are provided to normally hold the bed frame 17 in its vertically disposed position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and to minimize the physical effort required to raise and lower this frame, upon the base 10, between its vertical and horizontal positions, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 7. Any number of springs 21 may be provided to give the desired cushioning effect and the tensile strength is arranged in accordance with the size of the bed, the weight of the frame 17, with its springs 18, and the usual amount of bedding.

An auxiliary leg 23, preferably formed of converging arms 24 and 25, is pivotally mounted upon the base 10, the arm 25 being joined to a plate 26 by means of a pivot pin 27, and the arm 24 likewise joined to a plate 28 by means of a pivot pin 29. Plate 26 is carried by a transverse brace member 30, supported between standards 15, and plate 28 is carried by the transverse brace member 14.

` 1Bins 27 and 29 are necessarily coaxial ann their common axis tilted slightly from the vertical, as illustrated in Fig. 1, to raise the swinging end of the auxiliary leg free of floor when in folded'position and to bring it into engagement with the floor when in its fully extending posit-ion. lf desired a suit-v able roller or caster wheel 31 may be pro! vided on the outer en'd of the leg 23. To form a rigid structure a brace rod 32 joins the di vergent ends of the arms 24 and 25.

A contractile, helical spring 33 is secured at one end to an angle plate 34, on the transverse brace member 14 and at its opposite end to the arm 24, ofleg 23, adjacent to and forward of its pivot 29. This spring is disposed (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4) to swing over the pivotal axis .of the leg23, to either hold it in folded position, as illustrated in Figs. 1,2 and 3, or extended position as illustrated in Fig. 4. lts strength is only sufficient to assist in swinging the auxiliary leg 23 and to lightly h old in either folded or extended positionso as not to interfere in any way with its manual movement. V

An arcuate arm 35 is mounted upon and carried by the arm 24, of leg 23, concentric with the axis of pivot pin 29, vbeing rigidly braced as by means of a member 36. Upon movement ,of the leg 23, from the position illustrated in Fig. 3 to'that shown in Fig. 4, 'and vice versa, the arm 35 will travel in a circle as shown. l

A pin 37 is carried by a plate 38 secured to the head end frame member 17h and is so ar,- ranged that when the bed frame 17 is in its vertically disposed position, as illustrated'in dotted lines in Fig. 7, it will extend at right angles to the plinio of movement of the arcuate arm 35. his is more clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. 1t is also positioned to' be encircled by the arm 35 when the leg is in its folded position, as illustrated in Figs..2 and 3. By this means the bed frame 17 cannot be tilted. downwardly, as illustrated diagramn matically in Fig. 7 until 'the auxiliary leg 23 is moved from the folded position illustrated in Fig. 3, to its extended position as illustrated in Fig. 4; the length of arm 35 being such that the pin 37 cannot pass its end 39l until the leg 23 has reached its fully extended position asillustrated in Fig. 4. The end 39, of arm 35, nay, if desired, be pointed or rounded so that it may be engaged by the pin 37 and moved to its fully extended position upon downward movement of the frame 17.

A pair of links 40 and 41, pivotally oined together at 42, are each pivotally mounted upon the base member 14 and arm' 24 by lill) Y 'thereby preventing means of pivotfpins 43 and 44, respectively. Pin'48 connectsoneendof linli 40 with a 1 bracket 45 and pin 44 connects link 41 with et'4'6` through the' medium of arm 50.

l'raclrets45 and 46 Vare likewisel pivotally mounted upon the members 14 and* 24 by means of pivot pins 473 and 48, respectively.

Link 41 has a flattened'portion 49 extending' beyond'its pivotalpoint 44, .to serve asa toe plate for the purpose hereinafter stated.'

Links 40 and 41 are of suoli length thatl the transverse biaceniember 14 limits this y dou-inward movement.

By thus dropping past center the linlrs'40 and 41 serve as a latch" and prevent accidental movement of the leg 23' from its fully extended position toiif'ards its folded position.

.Vhen arranged for storage ina closetor recess the frame 17 is normally disposed vertically, with reference to thebalseV 10, as illujstrated in Figs. 1 andv7, beingyieldingly retainedain this position bythe contractile action of springs 21. Vilhen so arranged the bedn'iay be conveniently rolledin or out of the recess and throughk doors of standard width. as narrow as possible, in the direction of deptlnand may be of sutlicient length to aecommodate a bed frame of standard width or length. rlhus the base 10v is substantially oblong in configuration, as' illustrated in Fig. 2. Y

When in theposition just `deseribedth'e auxiliary leg 2'3is in the position illustrated iii Figs. 1,2 and 3, being yieldingly retained in this folded position by the contractile aetion of spring 33. `l/Vheii'in this position the arcuate or semi-circular arm 85 passes around and embraces the pin 37, as shown in Fig. 3, anydownward movement of the frame 17. f

When it is desired to lower the frame for use, from vertical to horizontal position, as illustrated diagrammaticallyin'Fig. 7, the auxiliary leg 23 is lirst manually movedfrom i the position illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 to that illustrated in Figs. 4 and v7. If the leg has been extended to its fullest extent the end 39 will clear the path of travel of the pin 37, upon downward movement of the frame 17, and the links 40 and' 41 dropped from the Vposition illustrated in Fig. 5 to that illuslrated in Fig; 6. While the spring 83 tends to swing the leg 23 to its fully extended position the links 40 and 41 limit this movement and upon dropping to the position `illustrated in Fig. 6 latch itagainst accidental movement. After the leg 23 has been fully extended the frame 17 may then be lowered, as illustrated in Fig. 7. f i

For Vthis reason the base is made lNhilethe coinbinatidii-ofthe pin37 and arcuate arm '35 has been providedtoobviate possibilityofvan'oversight in failing-to propearlyentendvtheleg 23 before swinging the frame 17 to the horizontal position, there will obviously be no danger of the fraiiiei17 being returned tol its full vertical position before the 4legv is folded. vAfter the frame 17 has been returned to the vertical position-1 it is only ne thereby throwing the links 40'and 41 from the position illustrated in Fig. 6 tothat illustrated in Fig.` 5, and this aidedzby the contractile action of springIl 33, `:will move the to its folded position as `illustrajted in Figs. 1', 2. and 3.

vessary to step on the toe plate r49,

' Byreferring to' Fi`g.7 it can be readily it capable of being easily passedfthrough the Y usual width door opening and into a coin- 'paratively smallfrecess. By vproviding the auxiliary legf23 the 'plan area ofthe basemay-v be readily increased to a depthsutcient to offset the contractile effect of springs 21 in tipping the'base. It may' also be readily seen tha-tin moving the frame 17 from the .vertical to the horizontal that the center of gravity of the entire bed structure will shift from substantially the line B to line (l" Vand that this will augment the tendency of springs 21 to tip the base 10. In factthis unbalanced weight of the frame alone will tip the base if it is made too narrow and not properly weighted.

From thel foregoing disclosure Ait is apparent that with my improvement the base `may be made very light and narrow thereby effect-ing a saving in costof manufacture and transportation as well as minimizing space required for its storage when not in` use.

Having described av preferred form of my invention, Iclaini:

1. A portable folding bed, comprising a base, a bed frame pivotally mounted on the base to swing vertically thereonv and overhang the basewhen in horizontal posit-ion, an auxiliary leg pivotally mounted on the base to swinghorizontally 'from folded position longitudinally of the base to extended position transversely of thebase, an arm rigid with said leg, and a pin on the-frame, said pin and arm being so `positioned that when the iso fiame is in vertical posit-ion the pin will be embraced by the arm to prevent movement of the frame towards the horizontal until after the leg has been moved to extended position.

2.1i portable folding bed, comprising a base, a bed frame pivotally mounted on the base to swing` vertically thereon and overhang the base when in horizontal position, an auxiliary leg,l pivotally mounted on the base to swing horizontally from folded position lone gitudinally of the base to extended position transversely of the base, a toggle like connection between the auxiliary leg and base to hold the leg in extended position, and means carried by and movable Withthe leg adapted to engage a member of the frame When the parte are in folded position to prevent movement of the frame from vertical position.

3. il. portable folding bed, comprising a base, a bed frame pivotally mounted on the base to swing` vertically thereon and overhang the base Whenin horizontal position, an auxiliary leg pivotally mounted on the base to swing' horizontally from folded position longitudinally of the base to extended posiion transversely of the base, a spring` connesting said leg and the base and acting to either hold the leg; in folded position or to swing it ontw-ard from the base, a curved arm connected With the' ley; and extending` rearward of the forward edge of the base, and a pin connected, with the bed frame and adapted to be positioned in front of said curved .arm when the frame is in upright vertical possi-tion, substantially as and for the purpose described. Y

fl. A' rtable folding` bed, comprising a base, a frame pivotally mounted on the base to swing vertically thereon'and overhang the base when in horizontal position, an auX- iliary leg` pivotally mounted on the base to swing horizontally from folded position longitudinally of the base to extended position transversely of the base, a spring connect-ing the leg and base and acting te hold the .leg in folded position, a locking mechanism comprising brackets pivotally connected to the base and auxiliary leg, two links respectively A pivoted to said brackets and to each other, the forward of said linlrs being extended to provide a foot rest, the parts being so arA y ranged that when the leg` is fully extended, said links will prevent moven'ient of the leg to folded position until bodily moved by pressure on said foot rest, for the. purpose described.

5. A portable folding' bed, con'iprising` a base, a bed frame pivotally mounted on the base to swing vertically thereon and to overframe adapted to be embraced bythe hook means, said hool means being arranged to embrace the complementary means tov prevent movement of the frame from its vertical pou sition until the leg' has been moved to its eX- tended position.A

ln Witness that l claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30 day of October, 1925.

EDGAR GOGKS. 

